THE EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR ATONIC ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF THE REPRODUCED SEEDS OF SWEET PEPPER

The application of growth regulators is a promising agro-technical approach which can contribute to improvement in plant development and increased productivity and quality. In Bulgaria pepper is a major vegetable crop, ranked second in economic importance. The use of plant growth regulators at the time of flowering induces a significant yield increase and an improvement in production quality, both of fruits and seeds. The growth regulator Atonic, applied to two pepper cultivars belonging to different varietal types (Kapia UV and Buceten 50) showed an obvious tendency for yield increase at concentrations of 0.125 ml/l and 0.5 ml/l. The increase obtained was 113.6% and 107.5% respectively. Higher seed productivity (by 39.0%) in both cultivars was also established at concentrations of 0.5 ml/l. Seed quality of cv. Kapia UV was most improved when treated with 0.5 ml/l, that of cv. Buceten 50 when treated with 0.25 ml/l. Varietal differences were also observed concerning seed fertility, which was stimulated only by the higher concentrations in cv. Kapia UV. Genotypical differentiation was also established concerning other qualitative seed characteristics.